DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF CURCUMIN UFASOMAL VAGINAL GEL USING DoE APPROACH

The present study aimed to develop and characterize a Curcumin-loaded ufasomal vaginal gel for vaginal cancer therapy to enhance drug permeation and therapeutic efficacy. Curcumin, a BCS Class IV drug with low solubility and permeability, was incorporated into ufasomes using the ethanol injection method. A Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize formulation variables, including oleic acid, Span 60, and cholesterol concentrations. The optimized formulation was evaluated for entrapment efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, and vesicle morphology. The optimized ufasomal formulation exhibited an entrapment efficiency of 61.8 ± 0.012%, particle size of 138 nm, zeta potential of 8.5 mV, and drug release of 78.2 ± 0.859% after 8 hours. FTIR and DSC studies confirmed the absence of drug–excipient interactions, while SEM revealed spherical vesicles with smooth morphology. The vaginal gel formulation showed desirable pH, viscosity, spreadability, and drug-content uniformity. These results suggest that the developed Curcumin-loaded ufasomal vaginal gel provides controlled drug release and could serve as a promising vaginal delivery system for improving the therapeutic efficacy of Curcumin in vaginal cancer.